Looking at new truck

[kevinwak]

The time has almost come to buy a new truck for the family. I was hoping to hold off until December 2016, but after a recent trip pulling the camper 2000 km I think it needs an upgrade before the next big trip. I am looking at a 3/4 or 1 ton diesel. Needing a crew cab for the family. Up until last week I assumed that it would probably be a Ford super-duty, or maybe on the off chance a ram. That may have all changed last week when I test drove a GMC 2500 HD Duramax. Wow, I was surprised how much I liked it! Nice and quiet. Smooth ride. Only issue was the 2400 pound payload rating. I think I need to step up to the 3500, because the 2500 leaves me with not much more capacity then a max payload F150. I didn't get a chance to drive the 3500, but I am hoping the ride isn't that much stiffer. I will then have to take the cute wife and drive all three in a row, Ford, Ram and Gmc.

Anybody have any input on the 2015 GMC Sierra Hd's? I never really considered one before, so I don't know as much about them as the Ford and ram.

 

[timswi]

What's the weight of the camper? I pull a 32' TT that goes around 8k empty and around 9.5k gross. I do it with a 2013 GMC Denali crew 6.2 and it does great even with a bed load of camping stuff---Even pulling in the PA mountains. ..

Actually after driving a 2015 5.3 the unloaded performance isn't much different to be honest...Rental truck there. Got hit by a dude on a bicycle sadly, so my preferred truck is in the body shop. Can't say what it would do under load though.

Diesels nowadays are very expensive and even more to maintain due to gubment crap..I've had diesels in the past, but I'm holding back now due to all of the problems across ALL manufacturers over the last decade. Gassers are pretty good these days...

Going to a 3/4 or 1 ton GM gasser would be fine if you stay in the weight limits.

 

[kevinwak]

What's the weight of the camper? I pull a 32' TT that goes around 8k empty and around 9.5k gross. I do it with a 2013 GMC Denali crew 6.2 and it does great even with a bed load of camping stuff---Even pulling in the PA mountains. .. Actually after driving a 2015 5.3 the unloaded performance isn't much different to be honest...Rental truck there. Got hit by a dude on a bicycle sadly, so my preferred truck is in the body shop. Can't say what it would do under load though. Diesels nowadays are very expensive and even more to maintain due to gubment crap..I've had diesels in the past, but I'm holding back now due to all of the problems across ALL manufacturers over the last decade. Gassers are pretty good these days... Going to a 3/4 or 1 ton GM gasser would be fine if you stay in the weight limits.

The camper is nice and light, just a touch over 6000 pounds on the axles loaded down for a two week trip. Unsure of the tongue weight as I didn't get a chance to weigh the truck other then when we were loaded and rolling. I know I don't need a diesel, or even a truck bigger then A half ton for the camper. I do also haul water about thirty miles to our house. It is this use that I want the bigger truck for, so I can maximize my water load and minimize trips to the load station. The 2500 is great if I plan on staying with bumper pull. But judging by the weight ratings I would be really limited if I went gooseneck to pull water.

To me I do t really want to go through the gas vs diesel debate. It is a luxury that I want to pay to have. I will gladly take cloth seats and a diesel motor over loaded leather and a gas job. Sure dollar for dollar, mile over mile, diesel may not pay itself back. Oh well, people argue those numbers daily on this and many other forums. In Canada diesel is an $11,000 option, and leather seats are a $9,000 option. I never see people arguing about justifying the leather cost or the payback.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Why not order what you want and need. I personally like 1 ton single rear wheel trucks. My F350 SRW has 3900# payload.

Chris

 

[farm boy00]

I'm sure this won't help but I got a 2005 duramax 2500. It's a good truck and all but the ride is horrible. They try to sit you like a car

 

[groundcover]

Not sure if the diesel is a luxury or an albatross ! They have their place but after over twenty years of diesel I'm back to a gasser and couldn't be happier . ( F350 6.2 ) what ever you go with the one ton.
The new diesels make crazy power but want to be working. Ongoing costs are substantially higher and that's if everything goes right !

 

[700R]

Not sure if you are up to date on the latest diesel emissions...but they do need to go through a re-gen process every so often. This means you will need to drive it at highway speeds for up to 30 minutes or so when it needs to do it's thing (something like that...I refuse to own new vehicles, so I don't know the specifics).

GM's are the cars of the truck world. If you are all about the interior and the ride quality...then go for it. If you want a truck for what a truck is meant for, then stick with Ford (or Ram).

 

[kevinwak]

. GM's are the cars of the truck world. If you are all about the interior and the ride quality...then go for it. If you want a truck for what a truck is meant for, then stick with Ford (or Ram).

I am not that into interior, going to be buying a fairly basically optioned out truck. Just realistically realize that a heavy duty pickup is not an off road vehicle. So since the majority of its miles will be highway I think gmc is a worthy option to look at.

 

[schmism]

From my experience, hauling boxy trailers (enclosed trailers, RV's etc) its not the weight that is a "design" limit. its the wind area. power and truck weight are your friend when pulling against wind (not just total trailer weight)

 

[crashz]

The GM trucks will do all that the others will do. Sheesh.

The 2500s are limited in payload by trying to keep under the 10,000 weight limit. Some states require commercial plates at that point. In MA you need a waiver to register an F350 with personal plates now.

The 3500 is nearly same, just with rear overload springs. Ride is the same. I think axle choices and trim packages are limited though.

Get the 3500. You'll be happy you did.